New Board Members Appointed to University of Maryland Baltimore  Washington Medical Center 

From left to right: Sarah Horta, Cathy Belcher, Maria Colucciello, DDS, Jason LaBarge and Wende Levitas 

The Following Is A Press Release From University Of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center

GLEN BURNIE, Md. (September 9, 2026) — Five distinguished community leaders recently  joined the boards of directors for the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical  Center (UM BWMC) and the BWMC Foundation. These newly appointed individuals bring a  wealth of knowledge, experience and leadership across several key areas important to the  continued success of the hospital, including business, security, community healthcare, finance,  real estate and philanthropy. 

UM BWMC is a member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System, a not-for profit, academic health system. For over 60 years, UM BWMC has been serving communities  across Anne Arundel County, the Greater Baltimore region and the state of Maryland. The new  board members will support healthcare initiatives that expand access to care and resources,  while promoting discovery, research and innovation.  

“Our community deserves access to the very best in clinical care, research and innovation,” said  Kathy McCollum, President of UM BWMC. “Achieving that vision requires strong community  support and leaders who are committed to investing in the future of healthcare. These new  board members bring valuable perspectives in rapidly changing fields that we can utilize in the 

healthcare setting to improve access to care, enhance the patient experience and ensure our  community continues to receive high-quality care today and for generations to come.” 

Joining the hospital’s Board of Directors is: 

▪ Sarah Horta, Director of Innovation & Strategic Partnerships at Maryland Economic  Development Corporation (MEDCO). Horta brings a range of experience in information  technology (IT), cybersecurity and business development. In her leadership role, Horta  manages strategic partnerships throughout the state and administers key programs that  foster growth in infrastructure and economic development. 

The BWMC Foundation Board of Directors provides strategic governance and philanthropic  leadership, and serves as ambassadors in the community to help advance UM BWMC’s mission.  

Joining the Foundation’s Board of Directors are:  

▪ Cathy Belcher, a dedicated philanthropist and volunteer for charitable organizations throughout Anne Arundel County. Belcher has consistently supported the Foundation  behind the scenes, including volunteering with the annual UM BWMC Golf Tournament — an event that has raised over $4 million over the past 28 years to support the  hospital. Additionally, Cathy and her husband, John, underwrote the hospital’s third annual SPARQ Tank innovation competition, where clinical and administrative staff  pitched original ideas to enhance patient care in front a panel of judges that included thought leaders from UMMS and the greater Anne Arundel County community. 

▪ Maria Colucciello, DDS, an accomplished Annapolis dentist and community advocate, is  a graduate of the University of Maryland School of Dentistry with more than 40 years of  clinical experience. Like Belcher, she has volunteered at the annual UM BWMC Golf  Tournament and donates to the Foundation to aid UM BWMC in delivering high quality,  patient-centered care. Dr. Colucciello also participates in the Maryland Foundation of  Dentistry’s Donated Dental Services program, providing free comprehensive dental care  to low-income adults, including veterans, who lack access due to a disability or chronic health condition.  

▪ Jason LaBarge is president of LaBarge Financial, a values-driven financial services  consulting company based in Severna Park. With a background in health administration,  LaBarge has acted as a financial advisor for his business for over a decade, building  meaningful relationships with community members to help them plan for a stable,  comfortable retirement in Maryland. Over the past year, LaBarge has generously  contributed to the BWMC Foundation to champion care initiatives at the hospital and 

affiliated ambulatory practices. He hopes to provide more hands-on support as an  official BWMC Foundation board member. 

▪ Wende Levitas, a real estate professional with more than 30 years of experience, serves  as Executive Vice President of Leasing and Property Management at Attman Properties.  Beyond real estate, Levitas is active within the Greater Baltimore community, donating  her time to groups such as the Jemicy School and Hadassah, Women’s Division of Israel  Bonds. She is also founder of the Erin Levitas Foundation, which she established in  memory of her daughter. Her contributions to UM BWMC’s Forensic Nurse Examiner  program back the hospital’s unwavering commitment to trauma-informed care for some  the community’s most vulnerable patients.  

“UM BWMC’s successes have been built on the dedication of local leaders who share our vision  for advancing the health and well-being of the communities we serve,” said Kathy Burk, Vice  President and Executive Director of the BWMC Foundation. “We are grateful to welcome these  new board members, whose expertise, passion and commitment will help raise the profile of  our organization, ensuring we have the resources to bring new programs and services to the  patients and families who rely on us every day and invest in our healthcare professionals.” 

About the University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center The University of Maryland Baltimore Washington Medical Center (UM BWMC) is a 310-bed  medical center committed to improving the health outcomes of the communities it serves. A  member organization of the University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS), UM BWMC is  located in Glen Burnie (Anne Arundel County) and has more than 3,100 team members and  1,000 medical providers on staff. The medical group provides primary and specialty care services  to individuals throughout the region. Together with community providers and faculty from the  University of Maryland School of Medicine, UM BWMC offers a wide range of clinical programs  including cancer, critical care, emergency, heart, lung, neurosciences, orthopedics, pediatric,  primary care, vascular, and women’s health. For more information, visit umbwmc.org. 

About the BWMC Foundation 

The BWMC Foundation is the fundraising arm of UM Baltimore Washington Medical Center,  supporting programs, technology, and services that enhance patient care. Through  philanthropic partnerships, the Foundation helps advance innovation and ensure the medical  center can meet the evolving needs of the communities it serves. The BWMC Foundation  welcomes gifts of all sizes. For more information, visit https://www.umms.org/bwmc/giving. 

About the University of Maryland Medical System 

The University of Maryland Medical System (UMMS) is an academic private health system,  focused on delivering compassionate, high-quality care and putting discovery and innovation 

into practice at the bedside. Partnering with the University of Maryland School of Medicine and  University of Maryland, Baltimore who educate the state’s future health care professionals,  UMMS is an integrated network of care, delivering 25 percent of all hospital care in urban,  suburban and rural communities across the state of Maryland. UMMS puts academic medicine  within reach through primary and specialty care delivered at 11 hospitals, including the flagship  University of Maryland Medical Center, the System’s anchor institution in downtown Baltimore,  as well as through a network of University of Maryland Urgent Care centers and more than 150  other locations in 13 counties. For more information, visit umms.org.

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